The best defense

Thyroid cancer is on the rise, says Dr Leigh Erin Connealy. Here's how to keep your thyroid gland healthy and cancer-free

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We live in unprecedented times. Statistically, one in every two people will receive a cancer diagnosis in their lifetime, and this scourge of a disease is being diagnosed in younger and younger people every day. Several factors influence these skyrocketing cases.

Our surroundings and lifestyle choices are major contributors. Compared to 50 years ago, the environment has completely changed: Our air, water, soil, and food supply are polluted with toxins, chemicals, and pesticides.

Our stress levels are at an all-time high. Electromagnetic fields (EMFs) generated by our phones, computers, WiFi devices, power lines, microwaves and other appliances wreak havoc on our bodies daily.

Most clothing is manufactured with toxic chemicals. In general, people sit more and exercise less, and diets filled with empty carbohydrates, added sugars, harmful seed oils and processed foods tend to be the norm.

Compounding the problem, people worldwide are taking excessive prescription medications to address health issues that could be treated naturally. Often, these drugs create additional side effects and issues that can be as bad—if not worse—than the original disease.

According to a recent IQVIA Institute report, “Global use of medicines grew by 14 percent over the past five years, and a further 12 percent increase is expected through 2028, bringing annual use to 3.8 trillion defined daily doses.” The same report notes that the medications with the most growth potential in the next five years include “oncology, immunology, diabetes and obesity drugs.”

Our toxic environment, coupled with less-than-optimal lifestyle choices, throws the body into chaos, disrupting the preferred balanced state (homeostasis) and creating a breeding ground for cancer and other diseases.

The rise of thyroid cancer